Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-10-21

came here last wintcr''P ziph asked sud
denly.
s-why? He was only common
cheat and imposter. What about him?''
''I don't know. He did strange things
anyhow"
Gle drank whislicy Three was no doubt
about that
think that those Americans to whom the
first outward and visible signs of wicked
ness is the drinking of whiskey number
about twenty millions. Fortunately for the
trade, the population is fifty millions.
"Perhaps he did But suppose only
say suppose-that by the help of the spirits
we could not only get new revelation of
the other world but that we could go to
them for advice and guidance, by which we
could make ourselves successful. Think
how it would he if we could light upon such
an adviser as a wise spirit who could tell
one what to do
"Well, Ziph, that is IA poets dream. Go
and write poem showing how man was
led upwards by a spirit, as Dante was led
by Beatrice"
"Dante-ycs. He was led to Heaven
and He'll and Purgatory. But l mean-if
man wanted distinction, would it not be a
delightful thing to find such a spirit who
would show him way?"
He looked about the garden as if there
might possibly be one or two spirits thus
benevolently disposed wise and capable,
within hearing. But there followed no sign
of their presence
Always greatness, Ziph? Why, think of
the millions who die unknown How
should you hope to escape the common lot;
One or two ont of every generation are re
membered for their work. And yet you
are dying to be one of them.
"Never mind the improbability If there
were only six men and women in all the
world going to be saved, you would try to
be one of the six. You know you would
Well now, ever since | saw the Medium and
the wonderful things he did, | have been
truing TO find out if | too we're a medium y
"Ziphr'
Because if were / could lift the vel
us hesdid or pretended to do, for myself.
"Ziphn'
| +. And then I could find that spirit anC
make him do whatever pleased
"Oh Iiph am sure it is wicked Dc
not-do not go on. Remember. that witches
were not suffered in the and. -
~ have gone to my own room to try
| You sit alone and you do nothing. Nou
look straight before you, and you keep YOU
mind quite clear, Presently there comes q
| time when the room in which you are fades
quite away and is lost, Then everything
| Vanishes. You lose the sense of yourself
You are outside the body-your soul il
floating --n
| "Ziph-stop, I entreat you.
For as he spoke his voice dropped and his
eyes assumed the far off gaze of one who
looks through things and sees them not
Am | truly behind the veil? he muir
INJURED, swayng gently TO and fro, witt
hands outstretched as in the dark, 81 heal
"A rustling of wings and a whispering OF
voices. There is soft music around me
gentle hands touch me; strange lips press
my lips; there is fragrance in the air; my
feet are on the threshold--'
Zph The girl sprang to her feet anC
caught him by the coat collar with boil
hands and began to shake him vigorously
'Stop play-acting!
He turned his eyes reproachfully.
| "Play actngn' he murmured. She call.
it play actingn'
You We're looking exactly as the Medium
tried to look. He could not, because h,
had pigs eyes and fat cheeks But you
| Ziph, you, to descend to the level of thai
poor creature whose tricks have been ex
posed again and again. Oh! Ziph-it il
worse than nonsense--no spirit will ever hell
you, save to your own Instruction.
WAS | actingy' he repeated dreamily
| Sometimes one doesn't know whether one
is acting or whether it is reality. How dc
you know that you have not dragged me
back from the very threshold Of the next
wOrld-from knowledge and from power
stuff and rubbish said the girl.